8 Day – Highlights of Uganda Luxury Safari

8 Days - Highlights of Uganda Luxury Safari

Hotels For Possible Upgrades (optional at Extra Cost Show Below the rates)

Gorilla Forest Camp Or Mountain Gorilla Cloude Lodge in Gorilla Park

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival Entebbe

On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by your driver/ Safaris guide who will greet you and transfer you to your hotel, taking between 15 minutes to 40 minutes, depending on traffic.

HOTEL OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Emini Pasha Hotel (Luxury Option) Bed and Breakfast

Africana Hotel or Similar (Standard option) Bed and Breakfast

Holiday Express Hotel or Similar (Budget Option) Bed and Breakfast

Day 2 Depart for Kibale Forest

This morning we will departfor Fort Portalandexplore the area around the base of the Rwenzori Mountains with an (optional) visit to the world-famous Ruwenzori Mountain Sculpture Foundation.

Later we drive to Kibale Forest National Park, in Western Uganda,an incredibly diverse forest that is home to over 13 species of primates including chimpanzee, red Colubus monkey, the rare L’Hoest monkey, blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, black faced vervet monkeys, baboons, pottos and bushbabies.Cleverly constructed boardwalks lead you through Papyrus that towers above your head in Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, a few minutes’ drive from Kibale Forest. With over 130 bird species, multicolored butterflies, eight different types of primates and the rare, semi-aquatic Sitatunga (antelope), this is community tourism at its best.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Kyaninga Lodge or Similar (Luxury Option) Full Board

Mountains Of the Moon or Similar (Standard option) full board

Chimpanzee Guest or Similar (Budget Option) Full Board

Day 3 chimpanzee tracking

After breakfast, it’s an early start to report to the ranger headquarters at 8 am in Kibale Forest National Park to track habituated Chimps. These engaging apes, our closest living relative, are great fun to watch as they play and fight in the fruiting trees. Your experience guides will introduce you to the different members of the chimp families, as well as the birds and plant life of the forest. The trails through the forest are generally easy to navigate and you will always be accompanied by Rangers.

The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier that its savannah counterpart, moves seasonally into areas of Kibale Forest. Occasionally other large mammals such as buffalo, giant forest hog and numerous antelope species can also be seen. Birders will be on the look-out for an incredible list of 335 bird species. Butterfly lovers and botanists will be impressed by equally long lists of rare and endemic forest species.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Kyaninga Lodge or Similar (Luxury Option) Full Board

Primate Lodge or Similar (Standard option) full board

Chimpanzee Guest or Similar (Budget Option) Full Board

Day 4 The Rift Valley

On day four, your driver will take you via Kasese towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, set on the floor of the Rift Valley, with the (occasionally visible peaks of the) Rwenzori Mountains behind you. The landscape of northern Queen Elizabeth comprises dozens of ancient craters carved into gentle rolling hills. The Kazinga Channellies in central Queen Elizabeth, its banks fertile with large mammals such as hippo, elephant and buffalo and over 600 bird species, more than any other national park in Uganda.

Overnight at Katara Lodge or Mweya Lodge which both offer panoramic views of the whole park (FB)

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Mweya Safari Lodge or Similar (Luxury Option) Full Board

Bushcamp Lodge or Similar (Standard Option) full Board

Mweya Hostel or Similar (Budget Option) Full Board

Day 5 Water Safari on the Kazinga Channel

Start your day early with a 6 o’clock coffee or tea wake-up call, ready for your early morning game drive. Make sure to ask the hotel staff for a packed breakfast that morning. A popular route for the game drive is the Kasenyi sector, well-known for its lions that prey on Queen Elizabeth’s large population of Uganda Kob (antelope). If you are very lucky, you may spot a Giant Forest Hog, Africa’s largest pig. Keep your eyes peeled to spot an elusive leopard!

After your Safari, you will head back to the lodge for a few hours relaxation by the pool and lunch.

In the afternoon, you will take a boat for a water safari on the Kazinga Channel at Mweyathat connects the two lakes of Edward and George. This is likely to be a big highlight of your trip! The expert Uganda Wildlife Authority guides will identify many of the Channel’s 100 bird species and you’re likely to see African Skimmers, Great White Pelicans, Spoonbill and a number of Bee-eater species. Hippos wallow at the edge of the water, huge Nile crocodiles bask in the sun and elephants come down to drink.

The Kazinga Channel boat ride is a brilliant opportunity to take some close-up wildlife shots.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Mweya Safari Lodge or Similar (Luxury Option) Full Board

Bushcamp Lodge or Similar (Standard Option) full Board

Mweya Hostel or Similar (Budget Option) Full Board

DAY 6 Depart For Bwindi – home of the mountain gorilla!

Today we will depart for BwindiImpenetrable Forestwith an ‘en route game drive’ passing through Ishasha, the remote, southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is on the expansive plains of Ishasha that you will be on the lookout for its famous resident: the tree climbing lion. A sighting is not guaranteed but you have a better chance of seeing them here in the large low-limbed fig trees of Ishashathan anywhere else in Africa.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a UNESCO NaturalWorldHeritage site and one of the richest biological and botanical regions in the world. The forest covers an area of 331 km² at the south-western edge of the western Rift Valley. Bwindi’s most-revered species are the approximately 400 wild Mountain Gorillas (2011 census) that make up half of the world population of these gentle apes.

After a few hours in the vehicle, you may enjoy an afternoon walk around the village of Buhoma (your home for two nights) and a chance to visit one of the handicraft shops or to meet the Batwa, the ancient forest-dwelling tribe.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Mahogany Springs Lodge or Similar Lodge (Luxury Option) Full Board

Optional Upgradeto Gorilla Camp or Mountain Gorilla Clouds Lodge

Silverback Lodge or Similar (Standard Option) Full Board

Buhoma community Bandas or Similar (Budget Option) booked on Full Board: Lunch/Dinner/Breakfast

Day 7 Gorilla Tracking

You will be up early on the morning of your Gorilla Trackingfor a good breakfast in preparation for the day’s physical activity. You will report for registration at the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger station by 8 AM. After a briefing by the rangers, your gorilla trek will start. The trek usually takes between three and six hours so a reasonable degree of fitness is required, as well as a strong pair of walking boots or shoes.

The rangers will guide you through the village gardens and into the jungle-like forest. They will escort you through the sometimes thick bush, occasionally hacking the dense undergrowth with a machete as you search to locate the gorillas. The mountain gorillas are under 24 hour monitoring for their own safety, so you’re almost guaranteed to see them. The rangers monitor each gorilla family by keeping in close radio contact.

In part due to gorilla tourism, the population of gorillas is slowly increasing but the species remains critically endangered. Gorillas and humans share almost identical genetic material and their health must not be compromised by coming into contact with human diseases (via our food, for example). To reduce transmission of disease from humans to gorillas, you will also be advised to keep a distance of 7 metres from the gorillas.

Once you have located the gorilla family, you will be asked to leave all your belongings to one side, and approach the gentle giants, just with your camera. The guides will interpret the animals’ behaviour and advise on what you are watching. Females and their young, young males and even a dominant Silverback may be seen: feeding, playing, interacting with each other, or just sleeping! You will never forget your encounter with the gorillas. They will be quite curious to see you! You are allowed exactly one hour with the gorillas before returning to base.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Mahogany Springs Lodge or Similar Lodge (Luxury Option) Full Board

Optional Upgradeto Gorilla Camp or Mountain Gorilla Clouds Lodge

Silverback Lodge or Similar (Standard Option) Full Board

Buhoma community Bandas or Similar (Budget Option) booked on Full Board: Lunch/Dinner/Breakfast

Day 8 Depart for Entebbe

After breakfast, we start our journey back towards Entebbe International Airport, stopping for a picnic lunch and a fun photo opportunity at the Equator. A dayroom will be organized for you to shower and change in Entebbe. After a farewell dinner, your Around Africa Safaris guide will transfer you to Entebbe InternationalAirport for your outbound flight.

Dayroom at Lake Victoria Serena (FB)

Please note that check-in for international flights should be done two hours prior to flight departure. The departures area of the airport has a small restaurant, several duty-free shops and a seating area.

Terms and condition

Day 1 Arrival Entebbe

On your arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by your driver/ Safaris guide who will greet you and transfer you to your hotel, taking between 15 minutes to 40 minutes, depending on traffic.

HOTEL OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Emini Pasha Hotel (Luxury Option) Bed and Breakfast

Africana Hotel or Similar (Standard option) Bed and Breakfast

Holiday Express Hotel or Similar (Budget Option) Bed and Breakfast

Day 2 Depart for Kibale Forest

This morning we will departfor Fort Portalandexplore the area around the base of the Rwenzori Mountains with an (optional) visit to the world-famous Ruwenzori Mountain Sculpture Foundation.

Later we drive to Kibale Forest National Park, in Western Uganda,an incredibly diverse forest that is home to over 13 species of primates including chimpanzee, red Colubus monkey, the rare L’Hoest monkey, blue monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, black faced vervet monkeys, baboons, pottos and bushbabies.Cleverly constructed boardwalks lead you through Papyrus that towers above your head in Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, a few minutes’ drive from Kibale Forest. With over 130 bird species, multicolored butterflies, eight different types of primates and the rare, semi-aquatic Sitatunga (antelope), this is community tourism at its best.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Kyaninga Lodge or Similar (Luxury Option) Full Board

Mountains Of the Moon or Similar (Standard option) full board

Chimpanzee Guest or Similar (Budget Option) Full Board

Day 3 chimpanzee tracking

After breakfast, it’s an early start to report to the ranger headquarters at 8 am in Kibale Forest National Park to track habituated Chimps. These engaging apes, our closest living relative, are great fun to watch as they play and fight in the fruiting trees. Your experience guides will introduce you to the different members of the chimp families, as well as the birds and plant life of the forest. The trails through the forest are generally easy to navigate and you will always be accompanied by Rangers.

The elusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier that its savannah counterpart, moves seasonally into areas of Kibale Forest. Occasionally other large mammals such as buffalo, giant forest hog and numerous antelope species can also be seen. Birders will be on the look-out for an incredible list of 335 bird species. Butterfly lovers and botanists will be impressed by equally long lists of rare and endemic forest species.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Kyaninga Lodge or Similar (Luxury Option) Full Board

Primate Lodge or Similar (Standard option) full board

Chimpanzee Guest or Similar (Budget Option) Full Board

Day 4 The Rift Valley

On day four, your driver will take you via Kasese towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, set on the floor of the Rift Valley, with the (occasionally visible peaks of the) Rwenzori Mountains behind you. The landscape of northern Queen Elizabeth comprises dozens of ancient craters carved into gentle rolling hills. The Kazinga Channellies in central Queen Elizabeth, its banks fertile with large mammals such as hippo, elephant and buffalo and over 600 bird species, more than any other national park in Uganda.

Overnight at Katara Lodge or Mweya Lodge which both offer panoramic views of the whole park (FB)

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Mweya Safari Lodge or Similar (Luxury Option) Full Board

Bushcamp Lodge or Similar (Standard Option) full Board

Mweya Hostel or Similar (Budget Option) Full Board

Day 5 Water Safari on the Kazinga Channel

Start your day early with a 6 o’clock coffee or tea wake-up call, ready for your early morning game drive. Make sure to ask the hotel staff for a packed breakfast that morning. A popular route for the game drive is the Kasenyi sector, well-known for its lions that prey on Queen Elizabeth’s large population of Uganda Kob (antelope). If you are very lucky, you may spot a Giant Forest Hog, Africa’s largest pig. Keep your eyes peeled to spot an elusive leopard!

After your Safari, you will head back to the lodge for a few hours relaxation by the pool and lunch.

In the afternoon, you will take a boat for a water safari on the Kazinga Channel at Mweyathat connects the two lakes of Edward and George. This is likely to be a big highlight of your trip! The expert Uganda Wildlife Authority guides will identify many of the Channel’s 100 bird species and you’re likely to see African Skimmers, Great White Pelicans, Spoonbill and a number of Bee-eater species. Hippos wallow at the edge of the water, huge Nile crocodiles bask in the sun and elephants come down to drink.

The Kazinga Channel boat ride is a brilliant opportunity to take some close-up wildlife shots.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Mweya Safari Lodge or Similar (Luxury Option) Full Board

Bushcamp Lodge or Similar (Standard Option) full Board

Mweya Hostel or Similar (Budget Option) Full Board

DAY 6 Depart For Bwindi – home of the mountain gorilla!

Today we will depart for BwindiImpenetrable Forestwith an ‘en route game drive’ passing through Ishasha, the remote, southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is on the expansive plains of Ishasha that you will be on the lookout for its famous resident: the tree climbing lion. A sighting is not guaranteed but you have a better chance of seeing them here in the large low-limbed fig trees of Ishashathan anywhere else in Africa.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a UNESCO NaturalWorldHeritage site and one of the richest biological and botanical regions in the world. The forest covers an area of 331 km² at the south-western edge of the western Rift Valley. Bwindi’s most-revered species are the approximately 400 wild Mountain Gorillas (2011 census) that make up half of the world population of these gentle apes.

After a few hours in the vehicle, you may enjoy an afternoon walk around the village of Buhoma (your home for two nights) and a chance to visit one of the handicraft shops or to meet the Batwa, the ancient forest-dwelling tribe.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Mahogany Springs Lodge or Similar Lodge (Luxury Option) Full Board

Optional Upgradeto Gorilla Camp or Mountain Gorilla Clouds Lodge

Silverback Lodge or Similar (Standard Option) Full Board

Buhoma community Bandas or Similar (Budget Option) booked on Full Board: Lunch/Dinner/Breakfast

Day 7 Gorilla Tracking

You will be up early on the morning of your Gorilla Trackingfor a good breakfast in preparation for the day’s physical activity. You will report for registration at the Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger station by 8 AM. After a briefing by the rangers, your gorilla trek will start. The trek usually takes between three and six hours so a reasonable degree of fitness is required, as well as a strong pair of walking boots or shoes.

The rangers will guide you through the village gardens and into the jungle-like forest. They will escort you through the sometimes thick bush, occasionally hacking the dense undergrowth with a machete as you search to locate the gorillas. The mountain gorillas are under 24 hour monitoring for their own safety, so you’re almost guaranteed to see them. The rangers monitor each gorilla family by keeping in close radio contact.

In part due to gorilla tourism, the population of gorillas is slowly increasing but the species remains critically endangered. Gorillas and humans share almost identical genetic material and their health must not be compromised by coming into contact with human diseases (via our food, for example). To reduce transmission of disease from humans to gorillas, you will also be advised to keep a distance of 7 metres from the gorillas.

Once you have located the gorilla family, you will be asked to leave all your belongings to one side, and approach the gentle giants, just with your camera. The guides will interpret the animals’ behaviour and advise on what you are watching. Females and their young, young males and even a dominant Silverback may be seen: feeding, playing, interacting with each other, or just sleeping! You will never forget your encounter with the gorillas. They will be quite curious to see you! You are allowed exactly one hour with the gorillas before returning to base.

HOTEL / LODGES OPTIONS Meals and overnight:

Mahogany Springs Lodge or Similar Lodge (Luxury Option) Full Board

Optional Upgradeto Gorilla Camp or Mountain Gorilla Clouds Lodge

Silverback Lodge or Similar (Standard Option) Full Board

Buhoma community Bandas or Similar (Budget Option) booked on Full Board: Lunch/Dinner/Breakfast

Day 8 Depart for Entebbe

After breakfast, we start our journey back towards Entebbe International Airport, stopping for a picnic lunch and a fun photo opportunity at the Equator. A dayroom will be organized for you to shower and change in Entebbe. After a farewell dinner, your Around Africa Safaris guide will transfer you to Entebbe InternationalAirport for your outbound flight.

Dayroom at Lake Victoria Serena (FB)

Please note that check-in for international flights should be done two hours prior to flight departure. The departures area of the airport has a small restaurant, several duty-free shops and a seating area.

What's Included

Included

All accommodation on Half Board (HB), Full Board (FB) or Bed and Breakfast (B&B) basis as quoted in the text

Safari vehicle and fuel

English speaking tourist guide

1 gorilla permit per person per person USD $700

1 chimp permit per person per person USD $200

Game drives and walks

Entrance fees to the national parks

All boat tours

Taxes

Free mineral water in the vehicle during the tour

AMREF emergency evacuation insurance

Excluded

Visa fees

Drinks / alcoholic drinks

Additional meals

Tips

Activities not part of the described programme

International travel insurance

Enquire

Engage us for that personalized quote just for you!

Rates Per Person

Season

Solo 1 room

2 people1 room

3 people2 rooms

4 people2 rooms

5 people3 rooms

6 people3 rooms

Jul 1, 2019 – Oct 31, 2019

Nov 1, 2019 – 22nd Dec, 2019

23rd Dec 2019 – 3rd Jan 2020

4th Jan 2020 – 31st March 2020

1st April 2020 – 30th June 2020

Whether it's the beaten track you're after, or something more off-road. We'll bring you as close as possible to the world's greatest sights.

We are committed towards personalised services to all our clients from time of booking to during your holiday.